Lifting and conveying apparatus



' 3, 1940- c. D.- REED ET AL I 2,213,718

LlF'lING. AND conv'nyme APPARATUS Original Filed April 21, 1958 s Sheets-Sheet '1 gwumtom laade Reed 15305617? P 1940- c. D. REED ET AL 2,213,718

LIFTING AND CONVEYING APPARATUS Original Filed April 21, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Swam -cod CM J. 366% Sept. 3, 1940. c. D. REED E1" m.

LIETING AND gpggmmg guf aws ori inr'fiidlprn "21, 1938 s SheetsSheet s Patented Sept. 3, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT FFECE LIFTING AND CONVEYING APPARATUS Original application April 21, 1938, Serial No. 203,306. -Divided and this application April 12,

1939, Serial No. 267,524

20 Claims.

This invention relates to article handling devices and more particularly to an apparatus adapted for lifting bundles of sucker rod sections used in oil wells which have enlarged end portions and are bound together in spaced relation, and is a division of our copending application entitled Method and apparatus for assembling and shipping rods, filed April 21, 1938, Serial No. 203,306.

It is necessary that the threaded ends of the sucker rod sections should be fully protected at all times during the shipping operation and handling, otherwise difficulty in assembling may be experienced in the field or the threads at the coupling join-ts might fail during the pumping operation, which would entail the same expense as the breakage of one of the rod sections in the well tube. To protect these threaded end portions of the sucker rods a coupling is usually threaded on one end of each rod and a cap on the opposite end.

Sucker rods on account of their enlarged end portions and the couplings and caps for protecting the said threaded ends can not be shipped loose or bundled directly together as the intermediate portions of the rods would become bent or twisted during shipment or handling.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawings the sucker rods are assembled in. sets of wooden. spacing blocks and bound together at spaced intervals to form bundles in which the sucker rods are arranged in vertical and horizontal rows held perfectly straight with the ends and intermediate portions in spaced relation to each other in such a manner as to obviate scratches and abrasions and prevent relative longitudinal and lateral movement of the rods in the bundle during handling and shipment.

After the individual bundles have been assembled and bound by means of straps they are hoisted by means of a traveling crane and transported to any desired location, which may be a car or like vehicle for shipment, where usually a plurality of the individual bundles are secured together and crated to form a unitary bundle.

In lifting the individual bundles great care must be exercised on account of their weight as the rods are liable to become bent or scratched during the operation.

Our lifting apparatus is particularly adapted for this purpose, but we wish it understood that we do not limit ourselves to sucker rods as it is also applicable for lifting and transporting other kinds of rods, bars or the like arranged in bundles in a similar manner.

One of the objects of our invention relates to the lifting apparatus by means of which each individual rod in the bundle is engaged and transferred to a vehicle such as a railroad car or any desired point for shipment or the like.

Another object of our invention relates to the manner of mounting and operatingthe rod engaging arms by means of which each individual sucker rod in the bundle can be simultaneously engaged or disengaged thereby.

With the foregoing and other objects in View, the invention will be more fully described hereinafter, and will be more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring now to the accompanying three sheets of drawings which forma part of this specification and onwhich like characters of reference indicate like parts:

Figure 1 is a perspective View illustrating the manner of engaging and conveying individual bundles of rods or the like;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of one of the bundle lifting devices;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation 'of the bundle lifting device illustrated in. Fig. 2 and showing a bundle of sucker rods in transverse section;

Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the lifting device;

Fig. 5 is a detail view of one of the shafts carrying the-arms adapted to engage individually the sucker rods or the like of which the bundle is composed;

Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view of shaft shown in Flig- Fig. 7 is a detail view of one of the operating handles;

Fig. 8 is a detail view of one of the levers which is attached to the upper end of each of the shafts carrying thearms, and

Fig. 9 is a detail View of the shifting bar.

In the drawings the numeral I indicates a bundle of sucker rods, and 2 a plurality of wooden spacing blocks vertically arranged in sets each 4% having kerfs or notches 3, the contour of which a may be rectangular, V-shaped or curved cut in one side in spaced relation to each other for receiving the sucker rods 4 or the like.

For illustration we have shown the bundle of 50 rods with five vertically arranged sets of spacing blocks each secured together by means of metal straps 5, but this number of sets of spacing blocks may be varied if desired. The spacing blocks 2 are all duplicates and' are each formed with ten kerfs 3, which are of substantially the same width as each rod and about half the depth of the same, and are all spaced an equal distance apart and arranged to form a bundle comprising eight horizontal rows of rods of ten each and ten vertical rows of eight each, and it will be noted by referring to Figure 3, that the rods are spaced an equal distance apart both vertically and horizontally.

A lifting device is adapted to engage each end portion of the bundle of assembled rods, each having a U-shaped head frame 6 for supporting a plurality of downwardly extending spaced shafts I each provided with a plurality of laterally oppositely extending arms 8 welded there to. The arms on one side of each of the spaced shafts are arranged in alignment with the arms on the opposite side of said shafts.

Each downwardly extending shaft l is adapted to extend between two vertical rows of sucker rods and to be rotated a quarter of a revolution, so that an arm 8 will extend under each rod as indicated. in Figure 3 or to be rotated a quarter of a revolution in the reverse direction to disengage the lifting device from the bundle. In order to rotate all the shafts 1 simultaneously a lever 9 is mounted on the upper end of each shaft and welded thereto as at l0 and extends outwardly therefrom at an angle of to that of the extend ing arms 8 and is pivoted as at H to a shifting bar l2. This shifting bar I2 is provided with a cylindrical end portion [3 upon which is rotatably mounted the tubular: end M of a handle !5 and secured thereto by means of a nut 16. Notches H and I8 are formed in one edge of the side legs of the head frame 6 for holding the handle l5 and extending arms 8 in the desired shifted position. As indicated in Figure l a ball I 9 is pivoted by means of a bolt 20 to the central portion of each of the upwardly extending legs of the U- shaped head frame 6 for receiving a chain 2| which extends to a lifting bar 22 which is adapted to be supported by means of a traveling crane (not shown).

The operation of our invention is as follows: Assuming that the sucker rods or the like have been assembled-in a rack between the wooden spacing blocks and bound and the lifting devices suspended from the lifting bar 22 by means of chains 2| with the handle [5 of the lifting devices inserted and held in the outer notch I! of each of the head frames 6, thereby rotating the spaced shafts I so that the extending arms 8 will be disposed transversely of the head frame and the levers 9 at an angle thereto as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 2.

The lifting devices are then moved by means of a traveling crane to a position near each end of the bundle and just above the same. The lifting devices are then lowered until the shafts 1 are each between a pair 'of vertical rows of rods and the lower surface of the head frame engages or nearly engages the top horizontal row of rods of the bundle. The handles l5 are then raised and the shifting bars I2 reciprocated until the handles l5 are inserted in the notches l8, an arm 8 will then be under each rod in the bundle in the position shown more clearly in Figure 3. The bundle of rods may then be raised by means of the traveling crane and conveyed and deposited where desired. The handles l5 are then raised and returned to the notches I1, and the lifting devices raised out of engagement with the bundle of rods. The operation above described may then be repeated.

In this manner each individual rod in the bundle is supported separately during the lifting and conveying operation and bending or injury to the rods is prevented.

Although we have shown and described our invention in considerable detail, we do not wish to be limited to the exact and specific details shown and described, but may usesuch substitutions, modifications or equivalents thereof, as are embraced within the scope of our invention, or as pointed out in the claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A lifting apparatus comprising a head frame, a shaft extending from the head frame, a plurality of arms extending from the opposite side of the shaft for individually engaging a plurality of vertically aligned articles to be lifted, a lever attached to the rod, and means for rotating the shaft to move the arms to engage or disengage the articles.

2. A lifting apparatus comprising a head frame, a plurality of spaced shafts extending downwardly from the head frame, a plurality of arms extending from the opposite side of each shaft for engaging individually a plurality of vertically aligned articles to be lifted, a lever attached to the upper end of each shaft, a shifting bar pivotally connected to the levers, and

means for operating the shifting bar adapted to rotate the shafts to move the arms to engage or disengage the articles.

3. A lifting apparatus comprising a U-shaped head frame, a plurality of spaced shafts having their upper ends journaled in the U-shaped head frame and extending downwardly therefrom, a plurality of arms extending from the opposite side of each shaft for engaging individually a plurality of vertically aligned articles to be lifted, a lever attached to the upper end of each shaft, a shifting bar pivotally connected to the levers, and means for operating the shifting bar for simultaneously rotating the shafts to move the arms to engage or disengage the articles. V

4. A lifting apparatus comprising a U -shaped head frame, a plurality of spaced shafts having their upper ends journaled in the U-shaped head frame and extending downwardly there-- from, arms extending from the opposite side of each shaft for engaging individually vertically aligned rows of articles to be lifted, alever attached to the upper end of each shaft, a shift,- ing bar pivotally connected to the levers, a cylindrical portion formed on the shifting bar, a

handle having a tubular portion rotatably mounted on the cylindrical portion of the shifting bar for operating the said shifting bar, and notches formed in the U-shaped head frame for engaging and'holding the handle after the shifting bar has been operated.

5. In a device of the class described for lifting a bundle of rods assembled in spaced relation to form vertical and horizontal rows, comprising a head frame, a shaft extending downwardly between each pair of vertical rows of rods in the bundle, an arm extending from the opposite-side of each shaft, for engaging each individual rod, and means for rotating the shafts to move .the arms to engage or disengage the rods.

6. In a device of the class described for lifting a bundle of rods assembled and bound together and horizontal rows of rods, comprising a head frame, a shaft having its upper end journaled in the head frame and extending downwardly therefrom between each pair of vertical rows of rods, arms extending from the opposite side a of each shaft adapted to engage each individual rod in the bundle to be lifted, and means for rotating the shafts to move the arms to -engage or disengage the rods.

'7. In a device of the class described for lifting a bundle of rods assembled and bound together in spaced relation to form a plurality of pairs of vertical rows of rods, comprising a head frame, a shaft supported by the head frame and extending downwardly therefrom between each pair of vertically arranged rows of rods, a plurality of arms extending from the opposite side of each shaft, a lever secured to the upper end of each shaft, a shifting bar pivotally connected to each lever, and means for operating the shifting bar to simultaneously move the arms to engage or disengage each of the rods.

8. In a device of the class described for lifting a bundle of rods assembled and bound together in spaced relation to form a plurality of pairs of vertically aligned rows of rods, comprising a head frame, a shaft supported by the head frame and extending downwardly therefrom between each pair of vertically aligned rows of rods, a plurality of arms extending from the opposite side of each shaft, a lever secured to the upper end of each shaft, a shifting bar pivotally connected to each lever, a handle for operating the shifting bar adapted to simultaneously rotate the shafts to move the arms to individually engage or disengage each of the rods.

9. In a device of the class described for lifting a bundle of rods assembled and bound together in spaced relation to form a plurality of pairs of vertically aligned rows of rods, means for supporting each end portion of the bundle, each comprising a head frame, shafts supported by the head frame, each extending downwardly therefrom between the pairs of vertically aligned rows of rods, a plurality of arms extending from the opposite side of each shaft, and means for simultaneously rotating the shafts in each head frame in one direction to move an arm under each rod to engage said rod or in the reverse direction to disengage the arm from the rod.

10. In a device of the class described for lifting a bundle of rods assembled and bound together in spaced relation to form a plurality of pairs of vertically aligned rows of rods, means for supporting each end portion of the bundle, each comprising a head frame, a plurality of shafts supported by each head frame, each extending downwardly therefrom between each pair of vertically aligned rows of rods, a plurality of arms extending from the opposite sides of each shaft, a lever secured to the top end of each .of the shafts supported by each head frame, a shifting bar pivotally connected to the levers of the shafts supported by each head frame, a handle for operating each shifting bar to move an arm under each rod or in the reverse direction to disengage the arms from the rods, and means for holding the shifting bar after each operation.

11. A lifting apparatus comprising a head frame, a shaft extending from the head frame, a plurality of arms extending from the opposite side of the shaft for engaging a pair of vertitically aligned rows of articles to be lifted, said arms on one side surface of the shaft being in alignment with the arms on the other side surface of the shaft, and means for rotating the shaft to move the arms to individually engage or disengage each of the articles,

12. A lifting apparatus for a bundle of rods or the like bound together in spaced relation, comprising a head frame, a row of spaced shafts having their upper end portions journaled in the head frame, a plurality of arms extending from the opposite side of each spaced shaft, said arms arranged in vertical and longitudinal aligned rows each adapted to individually engage a rod of the bundle to be lifted, and means for rotating the shafts to move the arms to engage or disengage the rods.

13. A lifting apparatus for a bundle of rods or the like bound together in spaced relation, comprising a head frame, a row of spaced shafts having their upper end portions journaled in the head frame, a plurality of arms extending from the opposite side of each of the spaced shafts, said arms arranged in vertical and longitudinal aligned rows each adapted to engage individually a rod in the bundle to be lifted, and means for simultaneously rotating the shafts to move the arms into a position to engage or disengage the rods.

14. A lifting apparatus comprising a head frame, a row of spaced shafts having their upper end portions journaled in the head frame and extending downwardly therefrom, a plurality of vertically aligned arms extending from the opposite side of each shaft, a lever rigidly secured -bar pivotally connecting the levers together, a

handle rotatably secured to the shifting bar for reciprocating the shifting bar to rotate the spaced shafts, and means for holding the handle in a fixed position.

15. A lifting apparatus comprising a head frame, a row of spaced shafts having their upper end portions journaled in the head frame and extending downwardly therefrom, a plurality of arms extending from the opposite side of each spaced shaft, said arms on one side surface of each spaced shaft being disposed in alignment with the arms on the opposite side surface of each spaced shaft, a lever rigidly secured to the upper end of each spaced shaft and extending outwardly therefrom, a shifting bar pivotally connecting the outer ends of the levers together, a cylindrical portion formed on one end of the shifting bar, a handle having a tubular portion rotatably mounted on the cylindrical end portion for reciprocating the shifting bar, and means for holding the handle at the end of each stroke of the shifting bar.

16. A lifting apparatus comprising a U-shaped head frame having upwardly extending leg portions, a row 'of spaced shafts having their upper end portions journaled centrally in the head frame and extending downwardly therefrom, a plurality of arms extending from the opposite side of each shaft, said arms on one side surface of each spaced shaft being disposed in alignment with the arms on the opposite side surface of each spaced shaft and with the arms of the entire row of spaced shafts, a lever rigidly secured to the upper end of each spaced shaft and extending outwardly therefrom, a shifting bar pivotally connecting the outer ends of the levers together, a cylindrical portion formed on one end of the shifting bar, a handle having a tubular portion rotatably mounted on the cylindrical end portion,

holding the handle at the end of each stroke of 1 the shifting bar.

17. A lifting device for a bundle of rods assembled and bound together in spaced relation to form a plurality of pairs of vertically aligned rows of rods, a lifting bar, a lifting device suspended from opposite ends of the lifting bar for supporting each end portion of the bundle, each comprising a head frame, spaced shafts having their upper ends journaled in the head frame and each extending downwardly therefrom between a pair of vertically aligned rows of rods at the end portions of the bundle, arms extending from the opposite side of each shaft, said arms on one side surface of each shaft being in alignment with the arms on the opposite side surface of each shaft, a shifting bar pivotally connected to each spaced shaft in each head frame, and a handle for reciprocating each shifting bar for simultaneously rotating the shafts in each head frame in one 3 direction to move an arm under each individual 1 rod in the bundle to engage said rod or in the reverse direction to disengage the arm from the rod.

18. A lifting device for a bundle of rods assembled and bound together in spaced relation to form a plurality of pairs of vertically aligned rows of rods, a lifting bar, a lifting device suspended from each end of the lifting bar each comprising a head frame, a plurality of spaced shafts with laterally extending arms having their upper ends journaled in each head frame and extending downwardly therefrom adapted to extend between each pair of vertically aligned rows of rods at the;

opposite end portions of the bundle,and means for simultaneously rotating the shafts in each head shafts with laterally extending arms having their upper. ends journaled in each head' frame and adapted to extend downwardly therefrom between a pair of vertically aligned rows of rods at the opposite end portions of the bundle, a lever rigidly secured to the upper end of each spaced shaft and extending outwardly therefrom, a shifting bar pivotally connecting the levers together, a cylindrical portion formed on one end of each shifting bar, a handle having a tubular portion rotatably mounted on the cylindrical end portion for reciprocating the shifting bar to simultaneously r0- tate the spaced shafts in one direction to move an arm under each individual rod in the bundle to engage said rod or in the reverse direction to disengage the arm from the rod.

20. A lifting device for a bundle of rods assembled and bound together in spaced relation to form a plurality of vertically and horizontally aligned rows of rods, a lifting bar, a lifting device suspended from each end of the lifting bar each comprising a U-shaped head frame with upwardly extending legs, a plurality of spaced shafts having their upper end portions journaled in the head frame, each extending downwardly therefrom between a pair of vertically aligned rows of rods at the opposite end portions of the bundle, a lever rigidly secured to the upper end of each spaced shaft and extending outwardly therefrom, a shifting bar pivotally connecting the levers together, a cylindrical portion formed on one end of the shifting bar, a handle having a tubular .portion rotatably mounted on the cylindrical end portion for reciprocating the shifting bar to simultaneously rotate the spaced shafts in one direction to move an arm under each rod in the bundle to engage said rod or in the reverse direction to disengage the arm from the rod, and notches formed in one of the upwardly extending legs of the head frame for holding the handle in a fixed position at the end of each stroke of the shifting bar.

CLAUDE D. REED. ROBERT L. RILEY. 

